Reaction-diffusion finite element matrix ($K=S+M$)

For $-u^{\prime \prime }+u=f$ with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions, the conforming piecewise-linear hat functions on a uniform grid give a diffusion stiffness matrix $S$ and a mass matrix $M$. Their nonzero entries are $S_{ii}=2/h$, $S_{i,i+1}=-1/h$, $M_{ii}=2h/3$, and $M_{i,i+1}=h/6$, with symmetric counterparts. The sum is a positive-definite matrix because its coefficient quadratic form is $\int ((u_h^{\prime }{)}^2+u_h^2)$. For forcing $f(x)=x$, the load at $x_i$ is $h{x}_i$.

For $u_t-u_{xx}+u=0$ with homogeneous mixed Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions, testing the Backward Euler method finite element equation with the new solution gives the displayed identity. Both the squared derivative norm and the squared function norm are required in the dissipation, because diffusion and reaction contribute separately. Replacing the full $H^1$ norm by its seminorm omits the reaction term. Positivity gives unconditional decay of the $L^2$ norm.